WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission said Thursday that comedian Stephen Colbert can use his TV show's resources for political fundraising.
Colbert played it straight during his appearance before the commission, letting his attorney do most of the talking while saving his trademark quips for a crowd that gathered outside the commission building after the meeting.
"I don't accept the status quo," he told the crowd, brandishing a portable credit-card processing machine. "I do accept Visa, MasterCard or American Express."
Many in the crowd handed Colbert their credit cards or dollar bills as contributions.
Asked what point he was trying to make about corporate America, Colbert did not miss a beat.
"None," he quipped. "I want their money."
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Colbert, who plays a conservative TV pundit on "The Colbert Report," is forming Colbert Super PAC, a type of political action committee that will allow him to raise unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions and individuals.
The money will be used to support or oppose candidates in the 2012 elections through independent expenditures such as TV ads.
Colbert has not indicated what kinds of candidates he might support.
Colbert had asked the commission for a "media exemption" to allow him to use his show's airtime, staff and other resources for his political action committee without having to publicly disclose them as in-kind contributions from Comedy Central's parent company, Viacom Inc.
